Baby bathing appliance



-Aug. 15, 1950 P. w. DOUGLAS Filed April 6, 1945 BABY BATHING APPLIANCE I 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 I NV ENTOR Pey fan W Doug/as ATTO RN EY Aug. 15, 1950 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,518,604 BABY BATHING APPLIANCE I 2 Shee ts-She et 2 Filed April 6, 1945 1 N v E N TO R Pey fan 14 Douq/as ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1 1956 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE I 7 2,518,604 BABY BATHING APPLIANCE Peyton W. Douglas, Syracuse, N. I I Application April 6, 1945, Serial No. 586,863

' 4 Claims.

l V V The invention relates to improvements in baby baths and, more particularly, to collapsible appliances furnishing convenient means for bathing and dressing a baby.

The general purpose of the invention is to pro-' vide a collapsible appliance for bathing and dressing babies having an improved construction whereby it may be easily and conveniently extended'for use either as a bathing appliance or as baby bath, a baby dressing table; and a support for the usual supplies employed in' connection with bathing and dressing babies (such as clothing, toilet articles, towels; etc.), which appliance can readily be extended for bathingand for dressing purposes with the supplies disposed for convenient access and will, when collapsed, provide an attractive and self-sustainingarticle of furniture with the supplies and theirsupporting means inaccessible condition, the construction being suchthat collapsing and extension of the appliancewill not disturb the supportedsupplies." c

" Another purpose. of the invention is to provide an appliance of the class set forth so constructed that its utility, convenience and appearance in both its extended and collapsed forms are improved and that the appliance may be constructed at small expense.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear from the follo'wing'desoription in detail of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

In'the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appliance extended for bathing a baby;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the appliance extended for dressing a baby; 7 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the appliance in compacted condition; y o

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the appliance with certain parts broken away,

the view showing the device extended for bath- 2 ing a baby and indicating in clotted lines the foldable tub supporting means partly folded;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view with certain parts omitted and the tub swung partly downward from its position of use, the view being taken on a line extending longitudinally and medially of the tub; and f Figure 6 is a'fragmentary perspective view of the appliance extended; man parts being omitted for clarity of illustration of certain features of the appliance.

The appliance shown comprises generally an upstanding and self-sustaining primary support [0, a bathing tub ll having a rigid rim and a pliablebody, the rim of which tub is hinged -;at one end of the tub to the primary support adjacent the top of said support'to permit the tubto be folded down at one face of the'supporta-tub support I2 hinged to the tub rim at the other end of the tub to permit it to-be folded up under the tub between the tub and said face of the support to collapse the pliable tub body, and a tub cover or'dressingtable top l3 hinged-to-the tub at one longitudinal edge of the tub to fold down on and close the top ofthe tub. By this arrangement, the tub cover or tabletop, when closed over the tub, isfoldable bodily with the tub when the tub is folded down at said one face of the primary support; sothat the tub and the folding support are confined andconcealed by the cover and the primary. support in the compacted .condition of the appliance as shownin Figure 3. The primary support sustains all of the other parts of the appliance when the appliance is compacted, and said primary supportincludes a shelf stack [4 for supplies at the other or outer face of said support, which shelf stack is accessible in both the compacted and extended conditions of the appliance. The shelf stack is at the obverse face of the primary support and the foldable parts are compactible at the reverse face of said primar support. l M '4' The appliance shown is constructed substantially entirely of fabric, light wooden elements, and light metal elements, so that it has avery light weight-and can be made at small cost, yet the construction is such that the applianceiis durable, is highly stable both when compacted and extended, and has an attractive appearance.

The primary support [0 will first be described. The two upstanding wooden end boards orwalls l5 are substantially triangular and are arranged in parallel relation with their longitudinal edges converging toward the upper ends of said boards. The boards 15 are tied together by two wooden boards l6 and l 1. The board [6 is diposed vertically edgewise between the upper ends of boards l medially of the longitudinal edges of the latter boards. Board I! is disposed between the lower end portions of boards l5 and lies in an inclined plane passing through the lower edge of board it, the board ll being spaced at its respective ends from both longitudinal edges of the adjacent board I5 and being disposed to one side of the vertical plane of board I6. A horizontally disposed wooden board or shelf l8 extends between boards l5 from one face of board I? at the lower edge of the latter to the longitudinal edges of boards l5 which are farthest from board ll. Above shelf l8 a second wooden board or shelf l9 extends horizontally between boards :15 from one face of board 16 at the lower end of the latter substantially to the adjacent longitudinal edges of the boards l5. The lower ends of the boards l5 are seated in slots 28 in wooden bars or foot pieces 2|, and the lower edge of board i! and lower face of shelf [8 are seated on the top of said foot pieces 2] between boards 5. The above described wooden parts are fastened together by nails ,22, although other suitable means may be employed to hold them, rigidly assembled.

A fabric wall or sheet 23, preferably formed of linen or .canvas, extends from one to the other of the end boards I5 behind .the shelves l8 and 1.9, said sheet 23 being secured to the rear faces of boards [6 and I! by tacks 24 .or other suitable means and lying substantially in an inclined plane parallel to that of the'rear face of board if. Between shelves l8 and I9, three superposed fabric shelves 25 are provided, these shelves being stitched or sewn to the inclined fabric wall 23, at their rear edges and being supported at their front edges by wooden rods 26. The rods 26 are cletachably secured to boards l5 by screws 2?, and the forward edges of the fabric shelves, are hemmed at 28 for passage of the detachable rods through the respective hems.

At the opposite face of the fabric wall 23 from that at which the shelves are located, there is provided a detachable X-shaped stiffenin brace element of the primary support l0, which brace element also affords a substantial backing for the fabric wall 23. This brace comprises two flat strips 29 of fiber board cross in X-form andrizv- ,eted together at their intersection by rivets 39. These strips are detachably secured at their ends by screws 3| to boards is and H, the planeof the X-shaped brace being generally parallel to that of wall 23.

It will be noted that the upper wooden shelf provided by boards I6 and i9 is a rigid shelf which is shallow from front to rear and is, therefore, particularly adapted for supporting bottles, jars and cans containingvarious powders, salves, and liquids ordinarily used in connection with bathing, dressing and other care of babies. To securely retain such supplies, there extends between the walls l5, and upwardly from the outer edge of board IS, a fabric band or retaining strip 32 which is anchored along its lower edge by tacks 33 or the like to the outer edge of board t9. The upper edge of band 32 is hemmed for passage therethrough in well known manner of an elastic element 3'4 which is detachably anchored at its end 'by two suitable anchoring means 35 clamping said element 34 at its ends to walls IS. A shelf with elastically exp'ansible front wall of this type is well known andmore detailed disclosure is, therefore, unnecessary.

The bathing tub H comprises an oblong wooden rim 36 and a pliable body 31 of water-impervious sheet material secured to the upper edge of the rim by tacks 43 or other suitable fastening means, the size of the body or sheet 3! being such that it will billow out below the rim, as shown, when the appliance is extended and will form with the rim an elongate tub. One of the short ends of the oblong tub frame is hinged to board [6 at the rear of shelf l6--l9 above the X-shaped brace 29 and the fabric wall 23 by a pair of hinges 38, the axial line of these hinges passing through the walls l5 behind board [6 and being so located that the tub may be swung upward only far enough to place its rim in a horizontal plane.

The width of the oblong tub frame is slightly less than the distance between walls l5, and the length of the tub is such that, in folding the appliance to compact condition, the tub swings downward toward the inclined brace 29 and the inclined fabric wall 23 and finally hangs from the board [.5 by hinges 38 in an inclined position (as shown in Figure 3) with the free short end of the tub frame slightly above the floor .engaging faces of the foot pieces 21, the foot. pieces being recessed at 39 topermit the free end of the tub to enter between the lower ends of the walls IS with the entire tub located finally between the brace 29 and the plane of the adjacent longitudinal edges of walls L5.

The tub has a drain hose .40 attached at one end of the hose to the pliable body 37 of the tub substantially centrally of the body. To permit the tub to be ,filled with and to retain bath water, there isprov-ided a hooker clip {ll secured to the under face of one longitudinal side. element of the tub rim .36 toreleasably retain the free end portion of the drain hose substantially at, the level of the tub rim.

A fabric bag or pocket 42. for holding soap is secured to the tub rim by Same of the. tacks .63 employed .to secure the pliable tub body to said rim, said soap pocket or bag being secured to the hinged end of the tub rim.

The foldable supporting, means 12. for the free endof the hinged tub II comprises a hinged. leg in the form of a wooden board 44 having nailed or otherwise fixed to one face thereof afoot board 45 elongated transversely of the tub. The leg board 4'4 has the end thereof which 'is opposite said foot board hinged by means of a pair of hinges 46 to the under side of thefree .end of the tub frame to permitswinging or folding .of the parts i l- 45 fiatwise up under the pliable tub body to collapse. said body and to. permit therelatively folded tub ,and'parts, -45 to thereupon be swung downward as a unit until arrestedin the inclined position of Figure 3 by the X-shaped brace 29 and the ends of recesses 39in foot pieces 2|.

When the appliance is fully compacted, as shown in Figure 3;, the hinged tub leg 44-.45 extends up from its hinges 46 between the X-shaped brace 29 and, the tub, and the weight of the tub and other parts to be later described, together with the inclined position in which the tub and said other-parts are arrested when the appliance is compacted, prevents accidental unfoldin of the leg, since gravitational force acts to keep the appliance fully compacted until a lifting or unfolding force is applied tothe tub.

To prevent accidental folding movement of the tub leg while the appliance is extended, as shown either in Figure 2 or in Figures 1 and 4, there is provided a ET-shaped metal brace and leg lock formed of slightly resilient metal, rod stock. vThe cross-bar of this brace and lock is hinged to thetub leg by a metal strap 48 fastened to the ..inner face of leg board 44;. The free endsof the legs of the brace and lockare bent outward at flato provide projections which are slidable in longitudinal grooves 49 formed in the inner faces of the longitudinal sides of the. tub frame. Ad-

jacent the hinged end of the tub. leg. 44-45, the

"By pressing the legs of the combined leg brace and lock 41 slightly toward each other, the hinged tub leg may be released for collapsing the ap- "pliance into. the condition shown inl igure.v 3.

The length of the hinged tub leg 44-45 is such that it reaches the floor upon which the primary 'and self-sustaining support It] stands whenthe,

appliance is extended to either the condition of Figure l or Figure 2. It will be noted that the appliance is supported in a very stable manner both when compacted and variably extended, and

that, as will be apparent from'the foregoing and following description, the support It! sustains all of the other parts of .the appliance in the fully compacted condition of the device shown in Figure'3.

' The oblon tub cover or dressing tabletop l3 is of the same external size or surface area as the tub rim and comprises an oblong wooden frame 5| over the outer face of which is tightly stretched a fabric or other pliable sheet 52 which is secured to the frame at the inner side of the framework by tacks 53 as shown. Sheet 52 is preferably formed of linen or canvas. The cover or table top is hinged to the tub frame or rim by a pair of hinges 54 to swing about an axis which extends along and closely adjacent one longitudinal edge of the tub frame and a corresponding longitudinal edge of the cover in such manner that the cover, when closed, rests on the tub rim and closes the tub. When the appliance is extended as shown in Figure 2, with the cover closed, the extended appliance provides a stable dressing table. By thereafter opening the cover, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the appliance affords a stable bathing means. A flexible cord 55 is attached to the rims or frames of the tub and cover to arrest openin movement of the cover after the cover has been opened slightly more than 90 degrees, as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

A flexible strap 56, preferably formed of fabric such as linen or canvas, has one end thereof anchored by tacks 51 to and medially of the ends of that longitudinal side of the tubrim or frame to which the cover or table top I3 is hinged. This strap is provided adjacent its free end with three snap fastener socket elements 58. The table top 13 carries medially of the free longitudinal edge of said cover the stud element 59 of a snap fastener which may be engaged with any one of the fastener socket elements 58, when the device is extended with the cover open, to hold strap 56 adjacent its free end as shown (for example) in Figure l. The tub ll carries, medially of its ends at that longitudinal edge thereof which is opposite the hinged edge of the cover, the stud element 65 of a snap fastener, which element may be engaged by either of the three socket elements 58 carried by strap 55. By the provision of the snap fastener means described, the strap may be fastened to the tub with the strap tightened over the tub cover to hold the cover firmly closed over the tub, as shown. in .Figure 3 andinfull lines in Figure 2; or the'strap may be fastened to the tub over :the cover with variable amounts of slack (as shownin one case in dotted'lines in Figure 2) to strap a baby down on the coveredtubor dressing table. i'

- To facilitate extension ofthe appliance from "its fully compacted condition shown in Figure 3,

there is provided a tab or short pliable'strap fi'l,

preferably formed of linen or canvaasaid s'trap or tab being anchored to the tub frame at -that longitudinal side of the frame opposite the one atwhich the tub cover is hinged. The tab6l is anchored to the tub frame bysome of the'tacks employed to secure the tub body to th'eframe, and said tab is preferably located adj'acentithe free end of the hinged tub as shown.

Q I The primary support I carries a slidabl e sii'pporting rod 62 for temporary support of towels, said rod'being preferably formed of wood and having a handle'knob 62a at its outer end. This rod slides through an aperture 63 in one of "the walls l5 (that one farthest from the hinge'ds ide of the cover), and through a bent metal strap 54 secured to boards I 6 and I9 adjacent, the unction of these boards. A stop screw or stud 65 is held to the rod near its inner. end to engage the strap to limit projecting movement of; the

rod. The knob 62a limits compacting movement of the rod.

The board vl6 of the primary support is provided, medially of its ends and adjacent its upper edge, with a longitudinally extending hand-hold slot 66 so located that, at least when the appliance is fully compacted, said hand-hold slot is freely accessible to permit convenient grasping of the appliance to carry it, or to slide it, as may be desired.

The construction is such that the fabric wall 23 and shelves 25 may readily be replaced as a unit by first detaching the brace 29 and rods 26 and tacks 24, and is also such that the fabric wall 32 and its elastic element 34 also may be readily replaced. The pliable sheets constituting parts of the tub and its cover may also readily be replaced. Ordinary upholstery tacks are preferably used to secure the fabric parts.

I claim:

A compactible baby bathing appliance compr1s1ng a depthwise collapsible bathing tub havmg a rigid rim with shorter ends than sides and a pliable body which is attached to and is extensible from said rim to hold water and is collapsible toward said rim to compactively flatten the tub depthwise of the tub, an articleholding shelf stack adapted to stand upright alone and to which one end of the rim of said tub is hinged for downward and inward swinging of the tub against the rear of said shelf stack and a support hingedly connected to the other end of said tub rim for folding of said support upward and inward between the tub and said shelf stack into substantial parallelism with the tub rim to collapse the tub body between said rim and said support and permit the collapsed tub and support to be folded against the rear of said stack with said support extending upward toward the hinge connection of the tub rim with said shelf stack.

2. A compactible baby bathing appliance, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tub cover is hinged to one side of the tub rim to swing transversely of the tub to close and open the top of the tub and to seat on the tub when in tub closing posi- 7 idmtandmeans are provided termleasalil y holdmesa-lid cover in tub closing position 3. 4A acompactible baby-lbath'inglappl ianoe comprising a. depthw-is-e collapsible bathing tub ihavhE-a frigid rim and a pliable body which: 81ttached to and is extzms-ible imam said rim. to hold wateris collapsible towardrsa-id rim to @ompactively flatten the tub depthwise of the '1lHb,,-atub c1osingcover hinged tosaid tub .rim, means for relea-sably holding, said tub *cover in (dosed position, a selii susta'ining. support seatable en a floor or the like .innpstandirre position and to which. said tub hinged adjacent theupper end: ofsaid support to swingdownward and .inward toward the lower end of said support, and a seoond snpport-connested to the rim of said "tub for folding thereof between the tub-and the self-sustaining support into close parallelism withithe. tub rim from an extended limit in which said two supports will, when seatedupright upon fa jfioor. or the like, supportthe tub hor zontally with the top of the tub uppermost.

45A compactible 'baby bathing appliance, as cllairned. in claim '3, wherein said self-sustaining has an upstanding. wall downward. and inward toward one face of which saidtub is sw'ingable compacting the tub, wherein the tijbis substantially entirely enclosed and convealed bysaidtub cover and said self-sustaining support whilethe appliance is in compacted condition and wherein said Salt r-sustaining support has-superposed shelves extending outward from the ether iace of said wall-1 for comenient access to saidsh'elves while the appliance is in its-com- 5 packed and 'extended'conditions.

PEYTON- W. DOUGLAS.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following: "references are of record "in the STATES PATENTS 

